Colorado River reaches Gulf of California

PHOENIX - Water from the Colorado River has reached the Sea of Cortez for the first time in more than 20 years.

The water traveled nearly 100 miles from a previously barren delta at the Morelos Dam just south of where California, Arizona and Mexico meet. It was a result of a bi-national agreement that came together after years of negotiations.

The water reached the sea on Thursday afternoon.

Water has not regularly flowed into the Sea of Cortez in more than 50 years. In 1983, floods sent water down to the ocean and another flood a decade later also temporarily increased the flow.

Conservationists say it'll be years before they see the environmental effects of the water streaming through.

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